Power and politics from up North

MA voters support stronger AI safety: AI safety requires transparency and accountability. A new poll shows that 75% of Massachusetts voters support requiring the largest AI companies to publish safety plans, report serious incidents, and face penalties for non-compliance. — See the poll.

The latest fight over Massachusetts's new Canadian hydropower line is technically a contract dispute between four companies. Politically, it's something bigger: a new wrinkle in one of the most consequential debates of this year's governor's race — whether Massachusetts can build a cleaner energy system without sacrificing reliability and driving up costs for ratepayers.

That debate just got a fresh talking point.

Last week, Eversource, National Grid and Unitil sued Hydro-Quebec in federal court, arguing that the Canadian utility violated its agreement by cutting off power for 12 days during the cold snap in January and February, just eight days after the New England Clean Energy Connect went into service.

The utilities say they had to spend roughly $40 million on more expensive power as a result. Hydro-Quebec counters that it was responding to an emergency in its home province and has sued the utilities for about $50 million in unpaid charges.

For Gov. Maura Healey, the episode is an awkward sequel to a much happier January moment.

Healey and Hydro-Quebec CEO Serge Abergel stood together as the long-delayed transmission line was celebrated with a ceremonial oversized light switch. As they flipped the symbolic prop, the governor announced that the line was expected to provide about 20% of Massachusetts's electricity while delivering savings to ratepayers.

Eight days later, the switch went off.

The line also went offline for roughly two weeks during an early-summer heatwave, with the company citing technical issues. That court fight won't just determine which company owes millions to the other. It could also help determine whether Hydro Quebec is legally required under the contract to keep power flowing to Massachusetts during emergency conditions.

The three utilities argue that it is. Hydro-Quebec says it has to prioritize its own province in situations like the winter cold spell.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue thinks the Canadians have a point.

"I have no problem with alternative forms of energy," Minogue said in a statement, "but per the contract, Canada is not required to provide that energy for us should they have a need or emergency."

That is a significant distinction in a campaign season where energy is already shaping up as one of the major fault lines.

"We've been clear from the beginning that Massachusetts ratepayers are entitled to reliable power at a low price," Healey's Department of Energy Resources said in a statement Thursday. "Hydro-Quebec needs to make this right."

The Healey administration said it was in close communication with the company during last winter's interruption and urged the parties to resolve the dispute.

Minogue and Healey have disagreed largely over clean energy, with Healey trumpeting her "all-of-the-above" approach which includes renewable sources and natural gas, while Minogue has argued that the state's clean energy goals are unrealistic and make the grid unreliable.

The hydro contract has been a key part of the clean-energy portfolio underpinning Healey's approach, while Minogue is questioning whether the state's landmark agreement actually guarantees the kind of uninterrupted power that supporters have portrayed as a benefit of the deal. - Sam Drysdale

Sam Drysdale is a reporter for the State House News Service. Reach her at [email protected].

Massachusetts is taking steps to lower energy costs. Let’s get the details right. Say NO to fixed charges. Learn more here.

HAPPENING TODAY

9:00 AM | U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley holds a press conference to unveil legislation that would establish financial relief for survivors of sexual violence, including survivors of abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She is joined by Tarana Burke of the "Me Too" Movement, Liz Speakman of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and Dahlia Locke of World Without Exploitation, along with others. | Washington, D.C.

10:00 AM | Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll join Masters Academy International founders Peter and Chris Masters and 2024 Olympic gold medalist Lauren Scruggs for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of Massachusetts’ first school designed specifically for student-athletes. | 688 Great Road, Stow

11:00 AM | The Yes 4 Election Day Registration campaign kicks off its push for the ballot questions that would enable eligible Bay Staters to register to vote or update their registration on Election Day. The event coincides with National Voter Registration Day. | Worcester Common Oval

12:00 PM | Gov. Healey announces “new action to strengthen maternal mental health and postpartum care” alongside First Lady Lydgate, Health and Human Services Secretary Mahaniah, Public Health Commissioner Goldstein, Mental Health Commissioner Bailey, Beth Israel Lahey President Dr. Kevin Tabb, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center President Peter Healy. | Leventhal Conference Room, Shapiro Clinical Center 2nd floor, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston

3:30 PM | Members of 32BJ SEIU who work as unarmed security officers at public and private sites, including downtown Boston office towers, Cambridge biotech companies, and higher education sites such as Northeastern University, rally to demand that security contractors such as Northeast Security agree to a contract with employer-paid health benefits for 3,200 unarmed security guards. | Forsyth Circle, outside Ruggles MBTA Station, Northeastern University exit

4:00 PM | AG Campbell participates in an open press "Commonwealth Conversation" with Associated Industries of Massachusetts. | Foley Hoag LLP, 155 Seaport Blvd., Boston

6:00 PM | House Minority Leader Brad Jones and former Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei are part of the host committee for a fundraiser for Micah Jones, the Republican running against Dan Koh for the U.S. House seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Moulton. | 7 Sevinor Road, Lynnfield (More Info)

JOB BOARD

Chief Procurement Officer — NEW, Barnstable County

Deputy Comptroller, City of Newton

Associate General Counsel-MRSB, Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General

Utilities Program Manager, MassDevelopment

Climate Action Coordinator, City of Newton

Project Manager, District Services, Longwood Collective

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The Commonwealth has over 42,000 nonprofits that educate us, keep us healthy, support our most vulnerable populations, and care for our cultural, historical, and environmental treasures. With federal actions seeking to undermine this critical work, the Massachusetts Council of Nonprofits encourages you to listen to the nonprofit voices in your community and advocate for causes that help them thrive — Learn more.

ON BEACON HILL

ON EDGE ABOUT AI: Gov. Healey called for the feds to put guardrails on AI development on Monday, as AI platform leaders agreed recently that the advancement of some models should be slowed down, several other Democratic governors said AI guardrails are needed, and lawmakers in Massachusetts are negotiating a bill that may end up wading into the topic. | State House News Service

DEVELOPING DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS: While Democratic socialists won primaries across the country, there's a bit of a different scene in Massachusetts. | Boston Globe

ANOTHER SUIT: Massachusetts joined 21 other states Monday in suing the federal government over a rule set to begin Friday that they say would deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security dismissed the concerns that accompanied the suit. | Associated Press via GBH

NEWS NEXT DOOR

MORE QUESTION 6 SUPPORT: Former U.S. EPA Administrator and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, author and environmentalist Bill McKibben and former Massachusetts Environmental Affairs Secretary Bob Durand are all endorsing the "YES on 6" ballot campaign, backing a question that would redirect tax revenue from sporting goods to a new conservation fund. The trio joins a coalition of supporters that includes Gov. Healey and over 100 environmental and community organizations and businesses throughout the state.

THE VOICE (LOGAN EDITION): Massport is searching for locals to be "the next voice" for airport announcements, opening a competition to find one "that captures the spirit of Massachusetts and New England" to record greetings and other information that will play aloud in the airport. | WBUR

NEW CONTRACT AT COOLEY: Hundreds of Cooley Dickinson healthcare workers ratified a new three-year contract that includes a 2% pay raise across the wage scale in the first and second years, pay-step movement for all employees, and bonuses for full- and part-time staff and per-diem employees. | Daily Hampshire Gazette

NANTUCKET SPOTLIGHT? Faraway Films wants approval for noise waivers, street closures and permission to film on public property from the Nantucket Select Board to shoot scenes for an upcoming film, "A Woman in the Sun," on the island. | Nantucket Current

POSSIBLE BAN: The Worcester City Council will consider banning public encampments at its meeting Tuesday via an ordinance that aims to improve outreach, coordination and compliance as a way to address the city's homelessness issues. | Telegram and Gazette

WHO'S FUNDING WHAT? Curious who's funding each of the nine ballot questions that will go before voters in November? The Globe compiled data of contributions since Jan. 1, 2025. | Boston Globe